Why Sioux Falls Should Be Called 'Bottleneck Falls' This Summer

Is it just me, or should Sioux Falls seriously consider a temporary name change to “Bottleneck Falls” this summer?

Road construction season is in full swing across the Sioux Empire, and the city is littered with orange cones and construction zones! Crews are everywhere, projects are moving, and yes, someday these smoother, safer roads will be worth it. But in the meantime, patience is required, and lots of it!

As of mid-May, much of the heavy work is happening on the east and southeast sides of Sioux Falls, and a few spots are really testing drivers' blood pressure and their brake pads.

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One of the biggest driving challenges right now can be found in the Arrowhead Parkway and Veterans Parkway area. The east side is currently closed for paving, sending drivers on a scenic tour via Sycamore, Madison, or 41st Street. And just when you think relief is coming, the west side is scheduled to shut down next, which will basically turn your daily commute into a two-part series until the end of the year.

Over on the southeast side, the Cliff Avenue and I-229 interchange project continues to be a slow roll. Northbound traffic is temporarily sharing space with southbound lanes. Meanwhile, the northbound ramps at Exit 4 are closed, so drivers are being rerouted to Minnesota Avenue (Exit 3) or 26th Street (Exit 5).

Another area that requires you to wear your patience pants can be found on South Cleveland Avenue. That is closed between 19th and 22nd Streets through the end of May, pushing traffic over to Bahnson. And if you’re heading south, South Sycamore Avenue is shut down from 69th to 85th Streets for utility work, with detours routed to Cliff Avenue and Highway 11.

And then there’s the sidewalk repair project on South Louise Avenue. The traffic backup from that alone has lines of cars stretching longer than the waits at 7 Brew and Chick-fil-A combined.

That, my friend, is just a snapshot of all the construction going on in Sioux Falls at this time. There are plenty more orange cones where those came from, scattered throughout different parts of town.

Make sure to give yourself extra time, stay alert in construction zones, and remember zipper merging isn’t just a suggestion, it’s actually the law. For the latest road work updates, check out the South Dakota 511 website before you head out.

9 Sioux Falls Streets Visitors Have A Hard Time Pronouncing

If you are visiting or new to Sioux Falls and trying to find your way around, chances are you really don't need to pronounce street names correctly. All you have to do is enter your destination into Google Maps and your phone will show you the way.

But what if you are trying to tell someone where your cool friend or family member lives in our fine city? Some of our streets and avenues have tricky spellings that may throw visitors for a loop when trying to sound them out.

No one is going to mess up on the big thoroughfares like Minnesota Avenue, Western Avenue, or Louise Avenue but what about these?

Gallery Credit: Ben Davis

Filed Under: Sioux Falls Road Construction